Coin-controlled locker.



O. MAYER.

00m GONTROLLBD LOCKER.

APPLICATION FILED HAYS, 1912.

Patented NOV 4, 1913.

27 milk.

llllll WHIIHIHIIIIHI wi lmeooeo UNITED sTA'rns PATENT omnon.

OTTO MAYER, AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO.

COIN-CONTROLLED LOCKER.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro MAYER, a citizen of the United States, residlng at American Falls, in the county of ()neida and State of and embodying in connection with a lock for fastening the door of the locker, coin controlled means, by which the key which opperates the lock may only be removed therefrom upon depositing a coin of the required value therein. The door may be unlocked by simply inserting the key at any subsequent time, but thereafter the key may be held securely and prevented from being again withdrawn, until another coin is deposited in the slot provided therefor.

With the above and other objects in view,

' the invention consists in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the claims hereunto ap pended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a locker, showing the door thereof thrown open and illustrating the coin-controlled mechanism of this invention, preparatory to the insertion of a coin. Fig.

,2 is an inside face view of the door, showing the position assumed by the mechanism, after the insertion of the coin. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the key. Fig 4 is a detail vertical section through the lock mechan- Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a box-like locker of any desired size, according to the use to which the locker is to be put. This locker is adapted to contain such articles of clothing as hats, coats, overcoats, and the like, or a dress-suitcase Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, 1913.

Application filed May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,945.

key is held fastened in the lock 3 on the door of the locker, in the manner as will hereinafter appear. Y

Arranged in opposite sides of'the key hole are sliding latches 9, mounted .in suitable guides 10 and having their inner ends "concaved to embrace the shank l of the key and rest back of the shoulder 8 of said key.

At their outer ends, the sliding latches 9 are connected to levers 11 which are pivotally mounted, at 12, onthe door and connected by a contractile spring 13 which serves to hold the latches normally in engagement with the key.

Above the mechanism just described, is arranged a plunger 1% having at a suitable point in the length thereof, a shoulder 15. This plunger extends above the top of the door, where it is provided with an op erating knob or button 16, the plunger being normally upheld by means of a coiled spring 17.

At its lower end, the plunger is pivotally connected, at 18, to a pair of oppositely arranged elbow levers 19 provided at their lower ends with hook-shaped projections 20 adapted to engage shoulders 21 on the latches 9 for moving said latches out of engagement with the key.

The plunger is normally held looked at the upper limit of its movement by means of a pawl 22 pivoted on the door, as shown, and connected by a link 23, such as a piece of wire, to a coin-operated lever 24:, one end of which lies in'a vertical coin chute 25, the upper end of which opens out in a slot 26 at the top of the door, while the lower end thereof communicates with a coin receptacle 27 arranged on the inner side of the door and near the bottom thereof. 7

In order to restore the pawl 22 to its looking position with reference to the plunger 14, I provide a pawl replacing lever 28 which is fulcrumed, at 29, and has the eX-,

the link 23, to move the pawl 22 out from.

under the shoulder 15' of the plunger 14.

The operator now presses down on the -.wedge-shaped portion ,7 thereof serves tospread apart the latches 9, which subsequently spring inwardly behind the shoulder of the key and lock the same therein. This enables the door to be unlocked, and the contents thereof recovered, but'it is impossible to again remove the key, until another coin has been deposited in the slot provided therefor. 1

What is claimed is: i

1. The combination with the door of a locker, of lock mechanism, a key for operating the lock mechanism, said key being provided With a tapering or wedge-shaped portion and a transverse shoulder, a pair of oppositely arranged latches cooperating with said key, means for yieldingly urging said latches toward thekey, a plunger, and connections between said plunger and the latches for moving the latches out of engagement with the key, and means for holding and releasing said plunger.

2. The combination with the door of a locker, of a key for operating the look thereof, said key being provided with a tapering or wedge-like portion, and a shoulder at one end thereof, oppositely arranged sliding latches movable toward and away from the key, a spring for urging said latches toward the key, oppositely arranged elbow levers arranged to move the latches out of engagement with the key, a plunger connected to said levers for simultaneously operating them, and means for holding and releasing said plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V OTTO li IAYER,

Witnesses F. 'SIGMUND, H. O. WONEZ.

Gop'ies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. V v 

